Top Things to do in Wild Atlantic Way
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Top 7 Biking Trails in Wild Atlantic Way, Wild Atlantic Way
Discover the best top things to do in Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland including The Great Western Greenway, Coolaney Mountain Bike Trails, Ballyhoura Mountain Bike Trail, Ladies Brae, Castlebar to Turlough Greenway, Great Southern Trail, North Kerry Way.
Restaurants in Wild Atlantic Way
1. The Great Western Greenway
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,438 reviews
Reviewed By UndergroundOfHappy
Wonderful day cycling from Achill back to Westport. Love the way the Greenway is close to the road in places although protected or segregated, giving you a picture of the vehicle traffic as you're whistling to yourself, gliding along past picture perfect views. The coastline, hillscape, terrain are all stunning, also nice to see the odd bit of local farm activity along the cycle path. At one point a ram literally said hello to us from high up on a rock (that's what we told ourselves anyway!). Stopped in Mulranny and Newport, both perfect stop offs for bit of food or refreshment, and great views of the coastline or river. We brought two kids of 9 years old and the 42km was just about manageable for them, it's mostly flat anyway. But there were plenty of even younger children we passed along the way too. An unforgettable day's cycling. Highly recommended.
2. Coolaney Mountain Bike Trails
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By AlanKle
Spent a couple of hours on the trails with 3 teenagers and had a great time. We got a lovely clear day and the views from the top red trails were fantastic. The trails are challenging in places but in general are certainly manageable. Currently only phase 1 is open but still plenty of choice of runs - on par with what’s available in Ballinastoe in Wicklow. When the further phases and bike rental opens this will be an even more fantastic facility for the north west
3. Ballyhoura Mountain Bike Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 93 reviews
Reviewed By neilbU8510AB
Heard about these trails from other cyclists and it sounded good. I made the long trip from county Longford. Suffice to say the trails are exactly as you would hope and I brought my own mountain bike which is recommended if a dedicated cyclist. The outward trails are very long with features that coerce you to keep going on and on. Even though you think you should start to turn back, the next trail (say from brown to white, white to blue to red) looks so tempting that it's hard to resist. Can easily find yourself overstretched with not enough energy or fitness to return to the start as the trails are just so long in length. However, more signage has appeared that directs the exhausted cyclist to a shortcut "way home" . The area is 25square miles of terrain with all sorts of historic trails that is described nowadays as enduro. Need plenty of liquid and energy bars to do the course. Most fit mountain bikers need two days to complete the whole course. Most of the trails are in neighbouring county Cork and has many entry points apart from the Trailcentre entrance in Greenwood (Trailriders).
4. Ladies Brae
5. Castlebar to Turlough Greenway
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 27 reviews
Reviewed By 133jillk - Dublin, Ireland
We spent a lovely day on the Castlebar to Turlough Greenway. With lots of parking it’s really convenient to start wjere we hired the bikes (Bikes & Boards) in Lough Lannagh Holiday Village with a Greenway into Castlebar town and then you follow the green arrows through the town and then back onto the greenway at the town park. There’s a great playground at the town park and a wonderful one in the woods at Turlough. Our 5 year old really enjoyed his first big cycle and our 3 year old loved being in her trailer. The museum is well worth a visit but the playground and cafe were the star attractions for us it was the perfect day trip.
6. Great Southern Trail
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 15 reviews
Reviewed By martinquinlanq - Limerick, Ireland
For a long time I was put off trying the GST as I had read some bad reviews mainly here saying that the surface wasn't good and that the scenery was poor and that it wasn't worth it . I eventually made it down there yesterday and after doing both the waterford greenway and the Great Western Greenway this summer I have to say the GST was my favourite of them all . The GST has a lovely wildness to it and is a little more unkempt and overgrown than the other more manicured greenways , this gives It a much more natural feel and travelling it is much more of an organic experience than the others . It cuts through lush meadows full of buddhist cows and by fields of barley reminisce of Russel Crowes Gladiators dreams of home . It skirts alongside a load of quaint rural towns so there were plenty of opportunities to grab coffees or pints . It's much less well known so its a lot quieter and uncrowded than the other costal greenways. Surface is paved in some parts and looser gravel or bohereen in others , we got on fine with Tyre size around 32 - 35c . Irish people have this thing about cycling skinny tyred road bikes everywhere they are not meant to be cycled especially with our roads being terrible ,then they declare the surfaces that they cycled there bum rattling 23c tyres on poor , but that's for another rant. Poor views ? Our eyes feasted on mountain vistas and across plains of beautiful farmland .Maybe those who complained were too short to see over the hedge . There are plenty of relics of the GSTs former life as a railway line which are put to good decorative effect . This greenway has loads of potential and is a bit of an under promoted understated gem . Get down there and take a spin to clear your head and get back to nature .Well worth checking out .
